In June 1973, UCLA computer science professor Jacques Vidal published a groundbreaking paper that introduced the term ‘brain-computer interface’ (BCI) [1]. What followed over the next five decades was nothing short of extraordinary – a journey that almost blurred the lines between science fiction and reality.
The field has seen Moore’s-law-like progress in scaling neural recording technology. Implantable electrodes capable of capturing signals from single neurons doubled their capacity approximately every seven years between the 1970s and 2020s, though still a step behind the faster two-year doubling rate of number of transistors per square inch of integrated circuits [2]. Today, we’ve reached milestones once thought impossible – BCI systems that can translate brain activity into sentences, with vocabularies of over 1,000 words, and at near-normal conversational speeds [3].
But progress comes with caveats. These cutting-edge systems are implantable, costly, and far from accessible to the average consumer. Their value is undeniable, but for now, their utility is largely confined to clinical or research applications.
The next big leap? A portable, affordable, and non(less)-implantable BCI system. Achieving this will require a multidisciplinary push, tapping into neuroscience, materials science, and even physics – fields that, surprisingly, haven’t fully cross-pollinated. The data speaks for itself: neuroscience, as a discipline, has produced nearly half as many BCI-related papers as computer science or engineering. Physics and materials science lag even further behind, contributing less than a tenth as much [4]. Closing these gaps could unlock the innovation needed to take BCIs mainstream.
At vision 73, we’re inviting researchers, developers, and enthusiasts from across disciplines to collaborate on realising Vidal’s bold vision from the 1973: ‘… [elevating] the computer to a genuine prosthetic extension of the brain’ [1].
Let’s work together to turn BCIs into everyday consumer devices that redefine how we interact with technology and beyond.
Join us and stay informed – register now for updates and event announcements.
References
[1] Vidal J. J. (1973). Toward direct brain-computer communication. Annual review of biophysics and bioengineering, 2, 157–180.
[2] Hong, G., Lieber, C.M. (2019) Novel electrode technologies for neural recordings. Nat Rev Neurosci 20, 330–345.
[3] Ramsey, N. F., & Crone, N. E. (2023). Brain implants that enable speech pass performance milestones. Nature, 620(954), 954–955.
[4] Maiseli, B., Abdalla, A. T., Massawe, L. V., Mbise, M., Mkocha, K., Nassor, N. A., Ismail, M., Michael, J., & Kimambo, S. (2023). Brain-computer interface: trend, challenges, and threats. Brain informatics, 10(1), 20.
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